A.Word.A.Day--vernissage

A private showing or preview of an art exhibition before the public
opening; also the reception celebrating the opening of an art exhibition.

[From French vernissage (varnishing), from vernis (varnish), ultimately
from Berenik, the name of an ancient city in Cyrenaica in northern Africa
where natural resins were first used as varnish.]

Traditionally, the day before the official opening of an art exhibition
was reserved for the artist to varnish or put finishing touches to their
paintings.

"On the night of the Vernissage, which must surely provide perfect
art-buying conditions - lashings of bubbles and money in the same
rooms - the red stickers are going up."
Michele Hewitson; Kiwi Hard-sell in Aussie Art-land; The New Zealand
Herald (Auckland); Oct 10, 2004.

"Marsden, the artist, has become the art, as she swims under the
water in a gold vernissage of late summer light."
For Marsden Swimming at the Quarry: Christian Science Monitor (Boston);
Jul 2, 1991.

This week's theme: toponyms.

X-Bonus

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-William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, educator and writer (1868-1963)

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